Master's degree in Holland. How much does it cost to study in Holland. Applying for a master's degree in the Netherlands
Magistracy in Holland (Netherlands) is very popular with foreign students. Find out which university is appropriate to choose, what language the programs are taught in and what you need for admission.
Holders of Russian specialist and bachelor's degrees can enter the master's program at a Dutch university without entrance exams. In a year or two, you can get a master's degree. Nearly half of all master's programs are offered on the English language which is why the Dutch magistracy is so popular with foreigners.
You can study at both universities of applied sciences and academic universities. The latter focuses on research work, and with such a diploma you can then go to graduate school.
Education is usually paid (on average, 7-20 thousand euros per year), but there are scholarships. For example, universities such as the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Free University of Amsterdam (VU), the University of Twente and Technical University Eindhoven provide grants that fully cover the education of gifted students, and the universities of Tilburg and Leiden can pay up to 75% of all costs, including both tuition and accommodation.
In the magistracy of universities of applied sciences, teachers primarily develop the student's professional skills, increase his competence in the chosen field. It also gives the opportunity to master various clinical (for the medical field) and analytical methods (for mathematicians, economists, financiers, auditors, and so on). The undergraduate is helped to prepare for further growth in the chosen field of activity, they are given the opportunity to become competitive in the labor market.
Most master's programs involve evening studies, because many students are already working in the profession. This scheme allows in practice to test the knowledge gained at the university. The training lasts at least a year.
Research Universities
Academic universities provide undergraduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to independently conduct research in one scientific discipline, or at the junction of several.
It offers a wide range of types of training programs: 
- academic prepares for fundamental work;
- wishing to lead scientific activity it is recommended to choose a research direction;
- The pedagogical program is suitable for those who plan to work as a teacher in a secondary school.
The minimum study period is one year. Research and teaching programs, as well as a master's degree in agronomy, natural sciences, mathematics, engineering takes 2 years. Study in the medical field (regardless of profile) lasts 3 years.
Master's degrees from Dutch universities are recognized all over the world, and in the world ranking in terms of quality / price higher education in 2015, this region ranked 3rd. Many local universities are in the TOP-200 of the best on the planet. Let's take a look at a few universities that offer a master's degree in Holland in English.
Leiden University is a research institution that has been operating since 1575. The master's program here is notable for the fact that foreign students can receive scholarships that cover from 25% of tuition fees up to the full payment of tuition fees + 10,000 € for accommodation. To qualify for such a discount, you need to be among the top 10% in your specialty, and not be an EU citizen. Students are offered a choice of 80 master's programs.
The University of Amsterdam is another of the oldest universities. Date of foundation: 1632. It offers more than 100 master's programs. It is one of four "integrated" universities that, despite wide range programs, the emphasis is on the quality of education, rather than on the needs of the labor market. A foreign master student can receive a scholarship for a year, with the possibility of its extension (if the program is two-year).
The Eindhoven University of Technology is a relatively young university founded in 1957. Offers about 30 master's programs in English. There are several special scholarships for successful international students. Eindhoven has many high-tech companies. It is quite easy for a student to find a part-time job while completing a master's degree.
Master's programs offer both applied and research universities in Holland. The duration of training varies from 1 year to 3 years. As a rule, the shortest programs are in the humanities and social sciences. Specialists in technical and natural fields spend two years studying: chemists, physicists, biologists. Master's programs in medicine, pharmaceutics, veterinary medicine and architecture are the longest: in less than 3 years it will not be possible to obtain a degree.
It is worth noting that the universities of applied sciences are aimed mainly at the practical application of knowledge, as well as the acquisition of management skills by students. Research universities are focused on scientific work: studying here is more often chosen by those who dream of building a career as a scientist or becoming a teacher.
Education in all universities in the Netherlands is in the "Dutch style", aimed at developing critical thinking and a creative approach to tasks. Classes are largely held in the form of a dialogue, when master students actively participate in the discussion of the topics being studied. The training in the Dutch master's program ends with the writing of a scientific work of about 120 pages.
How to apply for a master's degree in the Netherlands?
Each university in Holland has its own list of requirements for applicants. But in most cases, for enrollment, you must provide the following documents:
- Diploma of Higher Education;
- An extract from the diploma indicating the subjects studied, grades and the number of hours;
- Certificate of passing the language test (IELTS from 6.0 points). If studying in Dutch - test NT2 or CNaVT (not lower than level B2).
- Recommendations from teachers;
- CV (resume) and an essay in which the applicant writes about his scientific plans.
Please note: admission to the master's program is possible with a Russian bachelor's degree. However, changing the subject area is not recommended: in this case, you may be refused by the admissions committee.
The cost of studying for a master's degree in the Netherlands
Prices for studying at a master's degree in the Netherlands range from 7,000 to 20,000 € per year. At the same time, there are wide prospects for receiving grants and scholarships for talented students: they are allocated both by the universities themselves and by various organizations. Among Russians, one of the most popular is the Huygens Scholarships Program (HSP) scholarship, which allows you to cover tuition costs for up to 24 months.
Programs in English, a comfortable and safe environment, an additional year for graduates to look for work - all this attracts foreign students to Holland.
Living and studying in a country that is among the ten happiest and considered one of the safest, awaits all applicants who entered Dutch universities. To do this, you don’t even have to learn the local language, because 95% of the Dutch speak English, and most of the programs in universities are in English. STAR Academy, official representative of foreign educational institutions, spoke with Anna Dmitrieva, a student at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Anna told how she was surprised by Holland and how the education in the magistracy is structured.
- Anna, why did you decide to go for a master's degree in Holland?
I chose her for several reasons. Firstly, the cost of education is lower than in the States, and the quality is recognized all over the world. Secondly, the Dutch speak English well, so there is no need to learn Dutch. Thirdly, after graduation, international students are given the opportunity to apply for an orientation year in order to obtain permission to look for work in the Netherlands. This increases the chances of finding an employer and opening a visa if you want to stay.
I chose Erasmus University because it ranks high. And it was here that the Media&Business program was, which seemed really interesting to me. It allows me to apply the knowledge I gained in my bachelor's degree and explore a new field at the same time.
In 2016, the government simplified the conditions for participation in the Orientation year program for foreign graduates. Now candidates do not need to prove that they have the necessary financial resources for their maintenance during the year. There was an opportunity to participate repeatedly, i.е. after a bachelor's degree, you can stay for a year, then enroll in a master's program, unlearn and apply again. And finally, you can do this within 3 years after graduation.
- How long did you prepare for admission? What seemed the most difficult?
The admission process took a rather long period, so I advise you to start collecting papers as early as possible, since all institutions have their own deadlines for submitting documents. Perhaps the most difficult thing for me was writing a motivation letter that would attract the attention of the commission, but at the same time reflect my expectations from my studies.
It's all over, hooray! You graduated from a bachelor's degree in Russia, are there any fundamental differences between teaching methods in the two countries?
The approach to learning is very different from the approach in Russian universities. There are no typical lectures where you have to listen to the teacher for an hour and a half and write down everything he says. Classes are held in a rather informal atmosphere, in the format of seminars, where the teacher asks a question that each student can answer, express his opinion, ask a question to his classmates.
The essence of such seminars is not “dry” theory, but to make the student think about specific issues and encourage him to learn more after the lesson. However, no one checks whether you have read the textbook or not, it all depends entirely on you and your desire to learn. By the way, in my specialty there are no exams familiar to us. The final grade for the course is based on how you completed all the current assignments and projects, the points for which are summed up.
Holland is known for its innovative approaches to campus improvement and education in general. Along with lectures and seminars, the Problem-Based Learning format, or the method of solving specific cases, which was invented here, is also popular. When not a theory is supported by practice, but vice versa, a theory is built around a specific problem. This approach replaces the passive perception of information with involvement, activity, and the search for new solutions and ideas.
- You recently started to study, has the schedule already developed?
Every day starts at a different time, as we ourselves chose which group we want to be in and what time is more convenient for us. I have only 3 subjects a week, one lesson lasts about three hours. At first I was surprised that there were so many free days, but later I realized how much I was mistaken. A lot of time has to be devoted to reading literature and assignments, most of which are group projects.
- What is interesting on campus?
The campus is very spacious and I think it has everything! Cafe, library, a huge number of sports fields and gym, hairdresser, bicycle repair.
Let's talk a little about the country itself. What were your first impressions?
What surprised me the most about the move was the role that the bike plays in their lives. Of course, I knew that the bicycle is the main mode of transport, however, it was difficult to get used to the fact that the cyclist is the main participant in the movement, and his interests are even higher than the interests of pedestrians.
- Yes, they are obsessed with bicycles! What can you say about the city of Rotterdam itself?
Rotterdam is the most atypical city in the Netherlands. And most likely, if you decide to come here, it will not be love at first sight. But after living here for a while, you begin to appreciate its diversity. Rotterdam is the perfect combination of modern architecture and traditional Dutch streets. All Dutch are fluent in English, so there are no problems with the language. However, there are great difficulties with housing, the demand for it is high, and there are not so many offers, so you need to start looking in advance. What I still can’t get used to is that all cafes and shops close at 6-7 pm on weekdays, so you have to plan your day in advance.
- What are the prospects for the future after receiving the degree?
There are many employment opportunities in the Netherlands, universities organize various job fairs, meetings with alumni. I, of course, really hope to find an internship, and then a job here. I really want to work in a multinational environment and gain new experience. And the Netherlands is a great option for that.
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Master's degree in Holland is the first stage of postgraduate education. Dutch master's programs are quite flexible and varied, they include long-term internships and exchange studies. Education is conducted in Dutch or English, and the number of English-language programs is growing every year. Thanks to this, the popularity of Holland as educational direction: in 2016-17, every tenth student came to the country from abroad.
The universities of the country are divided into several large groups. Two of them are of interest to international master's students - research universities and universities of applied sciences. Master's programs in universities of these types differ in goals, content and duration.
Education in the Netherlands is paid, but its cost is significantly lower than in the UK, USA or Canada. At the master's level, students are offered a larger selection of scholarships than at the first higher, especially for research universities. In addition, applied universities encourage work in the specialty during study, as it allows you to immediately apply the acquired knowledge in practice.
Holland Research Masters
Research universities combine academic activities and fundamental scientific research, which allows them to participate in international rankings, annually occupying high positions. The purpose of the programs offered by universities of this type is to train future scientists and specialists in all subject areas with deep theoretical knowledge and a solid scientific outlook.
Master's research programs last 1-3 years, depending on the chosen subject area and the education received in the bachelor's degree. The longest research programs and the highest academic loads are in the fields of engineering, Agriculture, mathematics, natural sciences, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmaceuticals.
Students do not have to receive a second higher education in the specialty that they acquired in the bachelor's degree - they can choose an area that is quite close to the first education, or they can change their specialization, but in this case, studies can last longer.
Applied Masters in Holland
Universities of applied sciences are career-oriented, the purpose of the programs they have developed is to train practitioners. Applied universities do not conduct fundamental research and do not participate in international rankings, which may be less known to foreign students. The main advantage of their programs is the mandatory long-term internships that allow students to gain professional experience directly during their studies.
The duration of applied programs depends on the subject area and previous education and ranges from one to two years, but some programs, for example, in architectural specialties, can last up to 4 years. Often in academic plan applications included optional foreign language, since in Holland specialists who speak several languages, who understand well cultural characteristics different countries able to work well in a team and have developed communication skills. Of course, learning Dutch is also encouraged, and despite the fact that almost the entire population of the country speaks English, employers are more likely to give preference to a candidate who knows Dutch.
Teaching methods in the Dutch master's program
The system of higher education in the Netherlands has adopted a problem-based approach to learning, which is very different from the Russian one, and initial stage may present certain difficulties for students from Russia and the CIS.
You can learn more about the peculiarities of studying in Holland in comparison with Russia here.
Dutch master's degrees
Research programs lead to MA (Master of Arts) degrees in the humanities or social fields, MSc (Master of Science) in engineering and technical fields.
Applied programs also lead to MA or MSc degrees, but besides this, master's degrees with a subject area are widespread in Holland - for example, M.Aarch.
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Orange bikes, high salaries and poor students
Last year I entered a Dutch university.
Kirill Noskov
went to study in the Netherlands
Higher education in the Netherlands is considered prestigious: all 13 public universities are in the world top 200, and the country's educational system ranks eighth in the world. There are many programs in English and they are cheaper than in the US or UK.
But living in the Netherlands is expensive. Before studying, I planned every weekend to get out to some European city, go to museums and spend the night in a hotel on the banks of the Seine. The plan did not work: there is only enough money for rare trips around the country, and you have to spend the night at McDonald's, Starbucks or at the station. In the Netherlands, this is a familiar sight: students are poor and save on everything - housing, food, entertainment.
But first things first.
How to apply to a Dutch university
The Netherlands has a two-tier system of higher education. First, students receive a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree. Studying for a bachelor's degree takes 3-4 years, for a master's degree - 1-2 years.
Bachelor's students are accepted immediately after school: there are enough results of the Unified State Examination or a certificate from the school that you are passing it this year - the results themselves can be sent later. Only sometimes, in the coolest universities, they first ask you to unlearn a year at a university in your homeland or pass training courses.
Entrance exams in specialized subjects is a rarity here. Some universities ask you to take math tests to study as an economist or financier. Sometimes they offer to pass an interview if there is a big competition for the program, or to collect a portfolio if the specialty is creative. The only thing that is required for admission to all universities is the results of tests in the language of instruction - English or Dutch.
Most often, studies begin in September, but there are also February sets for undergraduate studies. Non-EU students need to submit documents at least three months before the start of their studies - this is how long universities issue a student visa.
Teaching in English
You don't need to know Dutch to study in the Netherlands. Local universities are trying to attract more foreign students, so they translate programs from Dutch into English and German. There are already more than two thousand English-language programs in the Netherlands - in almost all specialties. Only doctors and lawyers have to study Dutch.
6 points
the minimum level of English on the IELTS scale required for admission to a Dutch university
But you need to know English well. All Dutch universities accept IELTS and TOEFL test results, and in some places also the Cambridge test. The minimum level for a bachelor's degree is 6 points on the IELTS scale. If you score 5 points, you will be asked to learn the language on your own or offered to take preparatory courses at the university itself. The best way to prepare for a test is to specialized courses, where they analyze the tasks of previous years.
How to choose a university and program
The main source of information about studying in the Netherlands is the website of the Nuffik-neso state organization, which promotes Dutch education in other countries. The main site is in English and Dutch, but the Russian branch also has its own Russian site. Before entering a Dutch university, it is better to learn it by heart, because local education has many nuances.
There are two main types of universities in the Netherlands: classical research universities, and universities of applied sciences, universities of applied sciences. Research is more focused on the scientific training of students, applied - on the practical. The level of education in them differs slightly, but still, when they talk about the universities of the Netherlands, they mean the classic ones - Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht. They participate in international rankings.
Universities of applied sciences compete with each other within the country and do not climb into international rankings. Studying in them is not as prestigious as in classical ones, but it is also easier to do so. If you then go to work, then there is almost no difference. But if you want big science, then the university of applied sciences is not enough: you need a classical master's degree, and then a PhD program, an analogue of Russian postgraduate studies.
The nuances are not limited to the type of university. Universities differ in specialties, prices, deadlines for submitting documents, scholarships. Some help to rent the first room, others do not, and still others have a hostel. There are also those where part of the training takes place abroad.
It's best to sort this out beforehand. If you enter the first university you come across just because it is Dutch, then it is easy to be disappointed. The service "Nuffik-neso" - "Stadifinder" helps to choose a program.
My university
My institution, ArtEZ is a university of applied sciences that specializes in creative specialties: design, music, visual arts. Inside the Netherlands, it is considered cool, and five programs are the best in the country.
The faculties of the university are located in three cities: Arnhem, Zwolle and Enschede. I study in Enschede, at the art academy ArtEZ AKI. There are four universities in the city, 26 out of 158 thousand residents study in one of them.
My program is undergraduate Cross-Media Design. It is still difficult to say who I am studying for. I organize photo shoots, shoot on film, make ceramic dishes, make up booklets, edit videos. The academy prepares fighters who can do everything, and choose their specialization later.
But first of all, they teach independence. At the beginning of the day, students receive assignments, at the end they present their work and receive feedback. At the end of the semester, students organize exhibitions of their work and receive grades for the semester. The commission evaluates both the result and how the students received it. For example, the next semester I was banned from using a computer: I got so used to it at home that I did almost everything in graphic editors, and this narrows my horizons.
At the academy, I feel free. Students here live more than study: they drink beer, order pizza. At the beginning of my studies, my fellow students convinced me to change the color of my hair and dyed it gray with a purple tint right in the class.
How much does study cost
Higher education in the Netherlands is paid. The cost of the program depends on the specialty, university, city and citizenship of the student.
Students who do not have the citizenship of an EU country pay the most. For them, a bachelor's degree costs 7-15 thousand euros per year, a master's degree - 8-25 thousand euros, an MBA - 13-40 thousand euros.
525 000 R
per year I pay for tuition at ArtEZ AKI
Studying in Amsterdam and Utrecht is more expensive than in small towns like Enschede. For example, studying business at the University of Applied Sciences in Venlo costs 7,500 € per year (525,000 R), while in Amsterdam it is already 8,000 € (560,000 R).
Programs research universities more expensive than programs at universities of applied sciences. For example, an MBA at the University of Amsterdam costs 37,000 € per year, while at the Hanse University of Applied Sciences in Groningen it costs only 14,000 €.
The Dutch and EU citizens also pay tuition fees, but much less. For them, a year of study in any state university costs approximately 2,000 € (140,000 R) - the rest of the universities are compensated by the state. This amount does not depend on the program.
40 000 €
the maximum fee for a year of study at a Dutch university
For my design program, I pay 7,500 € per year (525,000 R). In addition, I spend about 150 € per month (10,000 R) on paper and other materials. These are additional costs - they are not included in the cost of the program. In different universities, these costs are different - depending on the specialty, students have to pay for textbooks, uniforms, university services for organizing internships and company tours. For the academic year, it runs 1000-1500 €.
You can pay less for your studies if you get a scholarship or grant. Another Nuffik-neso service, Grantfinder, helps to pick them up.
student visa
To study in the Netherlands without EU citizenship, you need a student visa. Universities issue it for their students - it will not work on their own.
Before applying for a visa, universities want to make sure that the student has enough money to live in the Netherlands. To do this, they ask to transfer to the bank account of the university the amount that is enough for a year of life in the country according to the calculations of the immigration service - 10,400 € (728,000 R). After the student arrives in the Netherlands and opens an account with a local bank, the university transfers this amount back to him.
10 400 €
a deposit that must be transferred to the university upon admission. When you apply for a visa, arrive and open an account in a local bank, get this amount back
After checking the solvency, the university requests the student's visa documents and sends them to the Dutch Immigration Service. There, an entry visa and a permit to stay in the country are issued for the student.
An entry visa, or MVV visa, is a sticker affixed to your passport at the nearest Dutch embassy. An MVV visa costs 321 € (22,470 R) and is valid for three months.
During this time, you need to come to the Netherlands, go to the immigration office and get permission to stay in the country, or a VVR visa. This is a plastic card with which you can live in the Netherlands and travel around the Schengen countries. It is issued for the entire period of study plus three months, but no more than five years.
If you have received a student visa, you need to study, otherwise it will be revoked. Universities monitor the progress of foreign students and report it to the immigration office every year. If a student passes less than half of the credits by the end of the year without a valid reason, the visa is revoked.
Another document that is needed to live legally in the Netherlands is the social security number, or BSN. It is issued by the local municipality after you receive a residence permit and find accommodation.
Medicine and insurance
In addition to the visa, non-EU students are required to take out two insurances: health insurance and liability insurance. The university can advise on options, but you will have to choose and buy insurance yourself.
Entertainment
There are not so many leisure options in Enschede: bars, restaurants, cinemas, several museums. To dance or drink, people gather in popular places in the city center.
On weekdays, there is almost no time for entertainment: I arrive at the academy by 9 am and stay there until 7 pm. During breaks I have lunch, drink coffee and communicate with the guys from the group and from other faculties. After school, no one goes for a walk: everyone works on additional projects and homework.
At home I used to go out on Fridays, but in Enschede students go to clubs and bars on Thursdays. At first it seems strange, because on Friday, study. But on Friday after classes, the Dutch are already leaving for their hometowns and they have no time for bars.
On Saturdays, fairs and festivals are held in the city. On Sundays the streets are empty, shops and bars are closed.
Cannabis drugs are legally sold in the Netherlands. They are bought and consumed in specially designated places - coffee shops. Light drugs are mainly taken by first-year students and migrants. I got used to the smell of marijuana on the street.
Once every 2 weeks I go to the big cities of the Netherlands and neighboring Germany - I walk, see the sights, go to exhibitions and take pictures.
From time to time, concerts of famous musicians are organized in the Netherlands. In October, I bought tickets for Lady Gaga, but the concert was postponed due to the singer's illness, so I returned the money and bought tickets for Khalid in February for 35 € (2450 R). Tickets for concerts of popular artists are sold out very quickly: there were no seats left for Kendrick Lamar in 2 hours.
What is the result
In my opinion, the Netherlands is the most comfortable country to live in. Western Europe. There is a high standard of living and educated people. A rational approach is felt everywhere - in the organization of space, transport, education, legislation.
In the Netherlands, it is customary to allow people to do what they do anyway, so from the outside it seems that there are prostitutes, drug addicts and gays all around. In fact, people here just do what they love and do not climb into other people's lives.
The Dutch are honest, friendly and straightforward. For the first six months I lived without mobile phone, but they did not refuse to call me or show me the way. At the university, teachers communicate with students on an equal footing - they have lunch together, drink coffee, joke, wear tables for exhibitions and clean the classrooms.
Of course, there are also disadvantages: specific food, rainy weather and high prices even by European standards. And in the Netherlands, it's boring everywhere except Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The Dutch rarely rest until late at night, drink little, and spend holidays with their families. It is good to study, work and raise children in the Netherlands, and it is better to go on vacation to Portugal or Spain.
Room rental
590 € (41 300 R)
Meals and miscellaneous expenses
200 € (14 000 R)
Travels
100 € (7000 R)
Mobile communication and Internet
10 € (700 R)
Total per month
1800 € (126 000 R)
The first months, the expenses are above average, because you need to buy furniture, dishes, detergents and other small things. But during the holidays, you can save on studying and renting a room - if you go home and rent it to someone else.